Guidewire for a free standing intervascular device having an integral stop mechanism

Abstract

An elongate guidewire for use with a free, unsecured, intervascular device having an elongate, enclosed, open ended channel for receiving the guidewire. The guidewire includes an elongate, flexible body having an outer dimension which is less than the inner dimension of the channel and an expandable and contractable stop member mounted on the guidewire body for movement between a first contracted position and a second expanded position. The expandable and contractable stop member is dimensioned in the first contracted position to move through said channel and in the second expanded position to preclude movement of said stop member through the channel.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 155,090 filed on Sep. 22, 1999.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a guidewire for positioning and removing emboli capture and recovery devices (ECRD) such as small filters in a vein or artery, and more particularly to a guidewire with an integral stop mechanism which, when expanded or extended, permits the guide wire to move freely with respect to the filter while preventing the guidewire from being inadvertently removed from association with the filter and when collapsed or retracted permits the guidewire to be inserted through or removed from the filter.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In recent years, a number of intervascular medical devices have been designed which are adapted for compression into a small size to facilitate introduction into a body vessel such as an arterial or vascular passageway and which are subsequently expandable into contact with walls...

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